Nine-year-old Australian skateboarder Mia Kretzer has become the youngest X Games gold medallist in history.
Kretzer was already the youngest competitor in the competition’s history, completing a perfect double-revolution 720 on her second of five attempts, to move into first and all but lock away her gold medal in Ventura, California at the weekend.
The Perth native defeated reigning champion and fellow Australian Arisa Trew, who failed at her final two tries to complete a 900 on the halfpipe.
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“I was so happy, it was so crazy. I definitely didn’t think I’d be getting a gold medal at nine years of age at X Games,” Kretzer told Nine’s Today on Tuesday.
The self-taught pocket rocket has taken the skateboarding world by storm, firstly gaining a wildcard entry to Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert competition (vertical skateboarding) that propelled her to new heights at X Games.
Kretzer’s mother, Inae Twine, explained her emotions as her pint-sized daughter took home gold.
“It was surreal. I cried so many tears on the last day,” Twine said.
“Just so proud, she’s put in so much hard work.
”It’s taken a lot to get to where we were. She’s taken the opportunity.”
That wildcard event, Tony Hawk’s Vert Alert, helped her gain entry into X Games, where the rest became history.
“It was just incredible how it all happened. The journey and the path. It all started with a wildcard to another competition and we just ran with it,” Twine said.
“Having this title for myself now is just so crazy, so happy for it all, so grateful,” Kretzer added.
Kretzer does not have an official coach, with her mother driving her every night after school to a skate park to get in her practice.
“She goes to school and we’re doing the crazy pick up run after school. It’s a good three, four hour session every night after school,” Twine said.
As for what’s next for Kretzer, who looks poised to take over the skating world, her dreams are grand.
“I’m actually thinking of going to the 2028 Olympics, for Vert (vertical skateboarding), which I’d probably be invited to,” she said.
“We’re hoping that LA puts Vert in the Olympics, we’re pushing for it,” Twine added.
“(She’d be) a veteran at 13 (by then).”
